George, South Africa

Sporting greats tee off 11th Gary Player Invitational


Gary Player and Brian Lara, two of the most iconic figures in their respective sports, will tee off the 11th Gary Player Invitational, presented by Coca-Cola, at The Links on Saturday as some of the biggest names in sport, business and entertainment gather for this charity tournament at Fancourt.

Grand Slam champion Player and West Indian cricket great Lara are in the first fourball along with Ladies European Tour star Lee-Anne Pace and German businesswoman Claudia Schoenfeld at 10:00.

“It’s going to be fun,” said Lara. “I’ve met Gary before and spent some time with him. He’s a cricket lover and I’m a golf lover, so we have a lot to talk about. I love the fact that at 75 years of age he goes down on the ground and does sit-ups and push-ups that I don’t do at the age of 41.”

The format of the event sees golfers from the regular tour and Champions Tour partnering with a celebrity and a business leader over two days of team golf, with the ultimate aim of raising money for underprivileged children.

Spanish Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia will find common ground in his fourball, which includes former Manchester United player Dwight Yorke. Garcia is an avid football fan and still plays the game in his time off.

“Even when I was playing tournaments during the FIFA World Cup, I woke up early in the morning if I needed to and watched every single game,” he said.

“I’ve heard great things about this golf course and I’m looking forward to playing it, as well as doing something for charity and for a gentleman of the caliber of Gary Player.”

Yorke was himself delighted to hear that he has been included in the same fourball as Garcia and senior professional John Cook.

“The course is in fantastic condition and I’m really excited to be here. I feel like I’m in heaven.”
Yorke and Lara, both good friends, also have a competition of their own over the next two days.

“I told Brian there is no way he’s beating me because I’ve got Sergio in my team. But he thinks that because he’s got Lee-Anne Pace (a five-time winner this year) in his team gives him a better chance, so we’ll see who wins this one,” said Yorke.

Former South African cricket captain Shaun Pollock is in the same fourball with golfers Tony Johnstone and Scottish women’s professional Carly Booth.

Dr Andrew Golding, Chief Executive of Pam Golding Properties, will be hoping to rely on the local knowledge of Fancourt resident John Bland in his fourball, which also includes former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United football star Lucas Radebe.

And double US Open champion Retief Goosen will be ably backed up by former All Black legend Zinzan Brooke, German entrepreneur Jurgen Dorsch and Champions Tour campaigner Mark McNulty.

OFFICIAL TEE TIMES FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF THE GARY PLAYER INVITATIONAL, PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA:

10h00 TEAM SCHOENFELD: Claudia Schoenfeld; Brian Lara; Gary Player; Lee-Anne Pace
10h12 TEAM WALTER-PETERS: Dr Hans Walter-Peters; Shaun Pollock; Tony Johnstone; Carly Booth
10h24 TEAM GOLDING: Dr Andrew Golding; Lucas Radebe; John Bland; Louise Friberg
10h36 TEAM CAMPEY: Alan Campey; Kimberlin Brown; Bobby Lincoln; Lindani Ndwandwe
10h48 TEAM RIEHMER: Hendrik Riehmer; Sasha Martinengo; Vincent Tshabalala; George Coetzee
11h00 TEAM MADITSI: Alex Maditsi; Unathi Msengana; Bertus Smit; Darren Fichardt
11h12 TEAM DORSCH: Jurgen Dorsch; Zinzan Brooke; Mark McNulty; Retief Goosen
11h24 TEAM KENNY: Sinead Kenny; Dwight Yorke; John Cook; Sergio Garcia




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